Drivers skipped NJ-NY tolls 1.7 million times

The News Leader

October 3, 2010 9:20:58 AM PDT

Eyewitness News

NEW YORK --

Motorists crossing over from New Jersey to New York passed through toll booths 1.7 million times without paying last year.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said the toll skippers dodged $17.7 million in tolls. But the New York Post reports that the agency was able to recoup $10.5 million of that, leaving $7.2 million in unpaid tolls plus fines.

The Port Authority said most of the violators are drivers without E-ZPass tags who go through the E-ZPass lanes.

Overall in 2009, the agency took in $962.5 million from 121.5 million trips through the tolls.